Mechanism or apparatus for holding or transferring articles



- F. M. FURBERJ v MECHANISMIOR' APPARATUS FOR HOLDING 0R TRANSFERRING ARTICLES. APPLICATION FILED 05c, 2|. 1918.

1,433,4 0 4 Patgnted Dee. 12,1922.

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FREDERICK 1W. FUR-BER, hIASSiiGHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE IdACI-IINEBY @GRPQRJETEOH. 03? PA'DEli-SON, NEW EEBSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

IJZECHANISEEZ 01?, APPARATUS FOR HOLDING: QB, TRANSFER/RING- ARTICLES.

Application filed December 21, 1918. Serial No. 267,783.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Fnnnnnroii M, Fon- Bnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Revere, in the county of Suffolk and State of ll lassachusetts. have invented certain Improvements in ll lechanisms or Apparatus for Holding or Transferring Articles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to a mechanism or apparatus for holding" or transferring; articles. The illustrated embodiment of the invention is particularly designed for use in the manufacture of shoes for pick ing up pieces of material one at a time and delivering them in proper relation to a sole or some other part of a shoe. However, it will be obvious that the invention is capable of wide application.

primary object of the invention is to produce a'novel mechanism of the character above indicated which will be simple, eitficient and reliable in construction and operation.

. embodying the invention in operative relation to a stack oi: articles to be transferred, certain parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in a different relation; and

Fig. 3 is detail view in perspective of one of the pivoted carriers or levers.

The mechanism herein shown by way of illustration as embodying the invention has been particularly designed for use as an Furthermore, the

element in a machine which applicant has invented for practising a method of? male I tool supported by and operated in the hand and, therefore, the means for supporting and operating this mechanism forms no part of the'present invention and is not herein shown. Moreover, obviously the mechanism'may be used for handling articles and blanks of numerous other kinds.

As shown in the drawings, the articles to v i be transferred, viz shank pieces 2, are ar-, ranged in a stack l upon a table or suit able support '6. Conveniently, the stack may be contained in a magazine 7 opposite side walls ofwhichareslotted, as indicated at 8, to receive the lower ends-or or levers 10 and to permit the removal ofeven the lowermost article from the stack. One of the two levers which constitute the means for engaging the articles is shown separatelyin Fig. Intermediate between, its ends each lever. is provided with an ear 12 containing hole 14 and the lower end of the lever is beveled at 16, the inner or upper end of the bevel merging into asubstantially vertical surface 18 which, with anintersecting horizontal surface 19, forms a square shoulder to fit the edge of the arti-' ole. The central portion of the lower end of the lever may be cut away as at 20 to insure a proper engagement of the surface 18avith the edge ofthe article. The height of the shoulder is i made approximately equal to, but preferably slightly less than, the height of the thinnest shank piece, or other article, to be handledby the particular mechanism so that only one article may be gripped at a time by the jaws. The upper ends of the levers 10 are laterally olfset and rounded as shown at 22. The cars 12 are each approximately one half the thickness of the ends of the levers and are both pivoted upon the same pin or bolt 21 which is slidable in a slot 26 in the two opposite walls 27 oi the bifurcated lower end of a carrier or slide 28. The lower end of the slide is formed as a foot 30 interposed. between the lower ends of the levers if) and constituting an ejector as will be more fully described.' The upper portion of the slide 28 is shown as rod. An elongated 32 is slidable thereonand is provided an integral flange 34' pressed upper rounded ends 22 o'f the levers it) by a coiled spring 36" which, at its upper end, bears against a collar 38 fixed by a set screw (tO'to the rod or slide 28. The upper end of the slide may be provided with a grip or handle, it the mechanism is be used as ahand tool, or itmay be connected to a crank arm or other appn priate trarsi'erring mechanism.

I In the use of the mechanism for trans ferring shank pieces one by one from a stack l to some other location, such as an outsole 42. it will be presented to the stack of shank pieces with the ends of the jaws extending a maximum distance beyond the lower end of foot 30 and with the inner faces of the. jaws resting against the sides of the foot. Pr'eferably, the slot 26 is so located that the lower end surface of the foot will be in alinement with, or ,just

a above, the horizontal surfaces 19. The sur faces 18 on the two levers will then be at a dlstance apart somewhat less than the width of the shank pieces 2 so that the beveled faces 16 of the jaws engage the upper edges or corners of the topmost shank piece. As a downward pressure is exerted upon the picker through the slide 28, these beveled faces are forced downward and-outward until the shank piece is seated against the surfaces 19, as shown in Fig. l. The strength of the spring 36 is suliicient to insure a preliminary flattening out and pressing together the siank pieces in the stack before the jaws spread apart. The ofi'set upper ends 22 of the levers are acted upon by the flange 3% at a substantial distancelatera'lly from the axis 24 so that the spring tends normally to force the awe toward ea'clrothen and against the sides of the foot 30. As shown in l, the top most shank piece 2 has been firmly clamped between the jaws otth'e levers 10, upon the release or the downward pressure on the slide, and by the bodily upward movement of the picker, the shank piece thus clampe il held by friction alone may be trans rerred a y desired point. The height of the shoulders 18 19 is preferably such, already pointed out, that only one shank piece can be removed from thesta'ck at a time. v p,

e shown in Fig.2, the shank piece while thus clamped may readily be discharged from the picker upon a sole 1-2 or other surface wider than the distance apart of the lower ends of the jaws. When the picker approaches the sole 41 2 the lower ends of the jaws first come into contact with its upper surface whereupon the continued downward movement of the slide relative to the causes the foot 30 to force the shank piece 2 positively -from between the surfaces 18 and directly down against the upper surface of the sole 42' as shown in hi 2. Thereafter, when the picker is lifted. the shank piece is left lying upon the sole. By repeating the operation thus described, all .the shank pieces may be removed successively from the stack l'and delivered to different soles. I

It to be noted that the particular shape and proportions of the lower ends of the levers 10 constituting the gripping jaws. are of considerable importance, not only in order to insure the removal of only one shank piece time from the stack but because, owing to the beveled surfaces 16 of the jaws the shank piece, after it has been delivered to thesole, cannot be picked up by the aws as the picker is lifted.

Having thus indicated the nature and scope 01" the invention and having described in detail a preferred form ofmechanism in which it may be embodied. what I claim as new andv desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: v 7 Y 1. l/lechanism of the class described having, in combination, a pair of leversmovable about common axis and havin provision for holding an articl e, a support uponwl ich said levers pivoted but nor able long? tudinal relative thereto. ielding means constantly tending to move said levers relative to each other,- and apart connected with said support for limiting such-move ment oi? said levers.

2. Mechanism oi? the class describedhaving in corn ion, a pair of levers. a single pin upon which the le vers are pivoted. a

side having a slot to receive said pin and. a spring interposed between a part ofthe slide and the ends, of the said levers and constantly tending to move said levers rela; tive to each other.

l Llechanism of the class described having. in combination, a pair of levers movable about a common and having provision for holding an article, a slide upon which. said levers are pivoted but movable longitudinally relative thereto, yielding means constantly tend ng to move the levers relative to each other and foot also movable relative to the levers to eject an article held thereby.

.4. lllechanism of the class described havj in cos. bination. pair of carriers conconstantly tending to move the carriers" to gripping position and an ejector movable relative to the carriers to discharge cle held there y.

5. Mechani o't tne class described having, in conibiation, pair of movable toward a d .oni each other, a i ,7 "or relatively moving the v to grip an article yieldingly and an ejector vfor discharging the article from the jaws.

6. ll'lechanism of the class desc bed having, in combination, a pair of novable toward and from each other and shaped to engage opposite s of an art cle, for relatively moving the jaws to article yield y and an ejector longitudinally between the jaws charging the article therefrom.

T. Mechanism of the class described comprising a pair of relatively movable mem bers constructed, proportioned and arranged to grip exteriorly and transfer the endmost only of a stack of articles.

8. lllechanism of the class d scribed coniprising means constructed ano arranged to grip and transfer the endmost only of a stack of articles, said means includinga pair of relatively movable surfaces for engaging opposite edges of the article.

9. lvlechanisin of the class described comprising a pair of jaws having co-o erating surfaces for engaging opposite edges of an article, and beveled surface directly into each such surface.

10. B/lechanism of the class described. comprising pair of jaws movable toward and from each other and having surfaces shaped and arranged to engage opposite edges oi? an article and also beveled surfaces merging directly into surfaces and sharp .l and arranged to guide the article into gripping position between said surfaces as the mechanism is brought into engagement with the article.

11. A picker comprising a pair of relatively movable beveled at their ends and having a relatively shallow recess with substantially square shoulders at the inner ends oi the bevels, said shoulders merging with said bevels and being cons ructed and arranged to engage opposite edges of article.

12. A picker for transferring a relatively rigid article having substantially parallel edges comprising a pair of pivoted levers the outer ends of which constitute jaws which are inwardly beveled and are provided with a relatively shallowrecess having square shoulders, means tending to force said jaws to ward each other so that when the bevels are pressed against opposite edges of the endmost of stacl: of articles it will be clamped in said recess.

13. Mechanism of the class described comprising a pair or" jaws constructed and are1 spring.

ranged to grip oppositeedgesol: the end- )st only ota i-ack oi ,art'cles in combinationivith additional means r engaging article gripped by the jaws and ejecting it herefroin.

. ldechanisn the class described compa .i' y' movable jaws led with. shoulders for engagingopedges of an article, a slide movable iodily relative said jaws and having a part by which an article clamped between said'shoulders will be engaged and positively ejected from. the aws as the slide is moved relative to said jaws. I 3 l5. l/lechanisin oi"? the class described comprising a pair ot' pivoted levers beveled at their ends and having a relatively shallow recess'with square shoulders for engaging opposite edges oil an article and a slide inovable bodily relative to said levers and having a part movable into said recess by which an article clamped between the shoulders may be ejected therefrom. l6. Mechanism of the class describedhaving, in combination, a pair of levers movable about a common axis and having provision for holding an article, a slide upon which said levers are pivoted but movable longitudinally relative thereto, an elongated sleeve having a sliding fit upon said slide and hearing against the ends of said levers a spring acting upon the sleeve and constantly tending to move it and the leversrelative to the slide. l7. Mechanism of the class described comprising a pair of pivoted levers beveled at corresponding ends and having a relatively shallow recess with-square shoulders at the 18. The combination ofrelatively movable members, 10, havng bevels, 16, atcorresponding ends, inwardly extending and shoulders, 18, 19, adjacent to the inner extremitiesot' said bevels, together with an ejector, 30.

l9.'M chanism of the class described having, in combination, a pair oflevers con} structed and arranged to hold an article, yielding means constantly tending to move the levers relative to each other to grip an article and hold it by triction alone, and a foot also movable relative to the levers to eject an article engaged thereby.

20. Mechanism of the class described comprising a pair ottrelatively movable jaws constructed and arranged to grip an article, a slide upon which said jaws are supported and Which has an integral foot to eject an able, and a spring acting against said siiparticle irom between sald 1&Ws.v port and against the ends of said levers and 10 21. Mechanism: the class described havconstantly tending to move said levers releing, in combination, a pair of leversniovtive to each other. I able about a ooinmon'ifulol'uin pin but being "in testimony whereof I have signed my otherwise fixed relative "50 the pin and havname to this specification. ing provision for holding an article, a support having a slot in which said pin is slici- FREDERICK M. FUR-BER.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,438,480, granted December 12, 1922, upon the application of Frederick M. Furber, of Revere, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Mechanisms or Apparatus for Holding or Transferring Articles, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 116, claim 18, strike out the Word and and insert the same to precede the Word inwardly in the same line; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 23d day of January, A. 1)., 1923.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

